The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Bible and part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. Leviticus gets its name from the tribe of Levi and the Levitical priests. The Levites were appointed by God to assist in worship and sacrifices. Leviticus provides detailed instructions from God to Moses regarding laws, rituals, and worship practices for the Israelites.
Leviticus can be divided into six main sections:
- Laws of sacrifice (Leviticus 1-7)
- Institution of the priesthood (Leviticus 8-10)
- Purity laws (Leviticus 11-16)
- Holiness code (Leviticus 17-26)
- Instructions for the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)
- Blessings and curses (Leviticus 26)
Laws of Sacrifice (Leviticus 1-7)
The first seven chapters of Leviticus provide detailed instructions regarding the five main types of sacrifices and offerings:
- Burnt offerings (Leviticus 1)
- Grain offerings (Leviticus 2)
- Peace offerings (Leviticus 3)
- Sin offerings (Leviticus 4-5:13)
- Guilt offerings (Leviticus 5:14-6:7)
God provides specific directions regarding the animals, materials, and procedures required for each type of offering. He also specifies which sacrifices must be offered in certain situations, such as unintentional versus willful sin. These sacrifices and offerings were a crucial part of Israel’s worship system and allowed the Israelites to draw near to a holy God.
Institution of the Priesthood (Leviticus 8-10)
Leviticus 8-10 describes the consecration and early ministry of Aaron and his sons as the exclusive priests before God in Israel’s worship. In Leviticus 8, Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons according to God’s instructions. Aaron and his sons will now serve as intermediaries between God and man. In Leviticus 9, Aaron offers sacrifices to God according to the regulations specified earlier. In response, God’s glory appears and consumes the sacrifices, showing His approval. In Leviticus 10, two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, disobey and offer unauthorized fire before the Lord. As punishment, fire comes out from God’s presence and consumes them. Their death underscores the need for exact obedience in approaching a holy God.
Purity Laws (Leviticus 11-15)
Leviticus 11-15 focuses on various sources of impurity and the procedures for cleansing:
- Food laws – Clean and unclean animals are distinguished (Leviticus 11). Only clean foods may be eaten.
- Childbirth – Instructions are given regarding the purification of women after childbirth (Leviticus 12).
- Skin diseases – Regulations for diagnosing and isolating infectious skin diseases like leprosy (Leviticus 13-14).
- Bodily discharges – Instructions for cleansing from bodily discharges like infection or menstrual flow (Leviticus 15).
Ritual purity was necessary in approaching the presence of a perfectly holy God. These laws promoted both physical and spiritual health.
Instructions for the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)
Leviticus 16 gives regulations for the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, the yearly day for corporate atonement for Israel’s sins.
Key instructions include:
- The high priest makes sacrifices for his own sins and the people’s sins to purify himself (Leviticus 16:6-14).
- Two male goats are chosen – one for sacrifice and one as the scapegoat who is released into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:7-10, 20-22).
- Blood is sprinkled on the mercy seat of the Ark to make atonement for sin (Leviticus 16:14-16).
- The scapegoat symbolically carries Israel’s sins away (Leviticus 16:20-22).
- The day is set aside as sacred with fasting and rest required of the Israelites (Leviticus 16:29-31).
Atonement was made so God could continue living among His people despite their sins.
Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-26)
Leviticus 17-26 contains a collection of laws known as the Holiness Code. These laws call Israel as God’s people to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 19:2). Key themes include:
- Proper worship – Regulations about sacrifice (Leviticus 17), sexual immorality (Leviticus 18), unlawful marriage (Leviticus 18), etc.
- Justice and love for one’s neighbor – Laws about loving one’s neighbor (Leviticus 19:18), leaving part of one’s harvest for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10), just weights and measures (Leviticus 19:35-36), impartial justice (Leviticus 19:15), etc.
- Obedience – Call to carefully obey God’s commands, otherwise there are punishments (Leviticus 20, Leviticus 26:14-39).
- Atonement and forgiveness – Despite Israel’s sins, atonement and forgiveness are available through confession, repentance, and sacrifice (Leviticus 26:40-45).
Holiness is lived out through obeying God’s laws for worship, loving others, and repenting when one fails.
Blessings and Curses (Leviticus 26)
Leviticus 26 promises blessings for Israel if they obey God’s commands (Leviticus 26:3-13), but curses if they disobey (Leviticus 26:14-39).
Blessings include:
- Rainfall, abundant harvests, and peace in the land (Leviticus 26:4-5, 26:6-8).
- God’s presence with Israel and relationship with them (Leviticus 26:11-12).
- Victory over Israel’s enemies (Leviticus 26:7-8).
Curses include:
- Disease, famine, wild animals killing people (Leviticus 26:16-17, 25-26).
- Defeat by enemies and exile from the land (Leviticus 26:17, 25, 31-39).
- God opposing Israel instead of favoring them (Leviticus 26:21, 24, 28, 40-42).
This shows the blessings of obedience and the pain of disobedience. Yet even amidst curses for disobedience, God promises restoration for Israel if they repent and turn back to Him (Leviticus 26:40-45).
Major Themes in Leviticus
Some of the major themes and purposes of Leviticus include:
- Holiness – God’s laws reveal His holy nature. Israel must be holy and separate from sin to approach Him (Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2, 20:7-8).
- Sacrifice and atonement – Detailed sacrifices and offerings that allow sinful man to approach a holy God (Leviticus 1-7, 16-17).
- Priesthood – Regulations for priests, the mediators between God and His people (Leviticus 8-10).
- Purity – Laws distinguishing between clean/unclean and setting purification procedures to protect holiness (Leviticus 11-15).
- Obedience and sin – Obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings punishment (Leviticus 26, multiple other laws).
- Grace and restoration – Though Israel sins and rebels, God provides grace and restoration when they repent (Leviticus 26:40-45).
Leviticus displays God’s desire to dwell among His people, but also reveals barriers that must be removed for a holy God and a sinful people to coexist. Procedures for sacrifice, cleansing, and atonement make a relationship possible between God and man.